Court summons Musharraf on January 16 to face treason charges

Islamabad: After analysing his medical report, the special court conducting Pervez Musharraf's treason trial on Thursday summoned him on January 16 and hinted it may act against the embattled former dictator if he does not appear before it.

The three judges of the special court, formed to try 70-year-old Musharraf on charges of high treason for imposing emergency in 2007, issued the order after a careful review of his medical report.

Summoning him on January 16, the court said an "appropriate order" would be issued if Musharraf fails to appear on that date.

Musharraf was admitted to a military hospital in Rawalpindi on January 2 when he suffered heart problems while being driven to court. He had skipped two earlier hearings after explosives were found near his house.

The special court said no written request for exemption from hearings had been received from Musharraf's counsel.

The judges had earlier reserved their verdict after prosecution and defence lawyers concluded their arguments on Musharraf's health condition.

During Thursday's hearing, prosecutor Akram Sheikh said Musharraf's medical report did not mention any condition that justified his skipping hearings of the treason trial.

He said the former army chief has not undergone even an angiography since he was admitted to hospital and this proves his condition is not serious.

Sheikh claimed Musharraf’s blood pressure was like that of a sportsman while the condition of his heart was "equal to that of a 18-year-old".

Musharraf's lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri said the former President needs more time to rest and recover. He said Musharraf’s health condition is "serious".

"The hospital will of course not expel its patient. It is Musharraf’s prerogative whether to check out or not," he told reporters outside the special court.

Pakistan has many good medical centres and there is no need to send Musharraf abroad for treatment. Musharraf is currently barred from travelling abroad but there has been widespread speculation that authorities could use his medical condition to allow him to leave Pakistan for medical treatment.

He is the first general to face trial for treason in Pakistan's history and if he is convicted, he could be given life imprisonment or the death penalty.